Sale 1032 — The Nick Kirke Collection of Gem-Quality Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 October, 2012
Category — 1908-12 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 331-365)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
3460
1c Green (331). Mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins all around, rich color and detailed impression, neat wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, unquestionably one of the finest used examples in existence, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $150.00 as 98), this is the highest grade possible and only three others share this grade
0
300
3461
2c Carmine (332). Huge Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, vivid color, neat oval numeral grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp and the epitome of perfection for a used Washington-Franklin, with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates, (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $225.00 as 98), this is the highest grade possible and only one other example has achieved this grade
0
300
Back to Top3462
2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (332a). Position A with intact tab at top, vivid color, two neat strikes of Flint Mich. oval registry cancels, few horizontal perf separations between pos. 1 and 3, small perf fault between pos. 2 and 4, otherwise Very Fine, a scarce intact used pane, very few are known as intact panes, with 2011 P.F. certificate
400
350
Back to Top3463
4c Orange Brown (334). Fresh color on crisp paper, perfect centering with Jumbo margins, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $350.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other, the next highest grade is a 95J
1
600
Back to Top3464
5c Blue (335). Almost perfect centering, deep rich color, very lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $150.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other has achieved this grade, despite the rather modest SMQ value this issue is exceedingly difficult to find in superb used condition, it is the only value in the 1908-09 Double-Line Watermarked Issue other than the $1.00 that is not reported in the P.S.E. Population Report with at least a 95J grade, and in fact, all the other values except the $1.00 and the 6c have at least a 98 grade reported
2
170
Back to Top3465
13c Blue Green (339). Precise centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color, two strikes of town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example of this issue which would be extremely difficult to improve upon, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $720.00), this is the sole example graded 98 with none higher
19
600
Back to Top3466
15c Pale Ultramarine (340). Brilliant color, Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, light town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an absolutely superb example of this issue, with 2010 P.S.A.G certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo), with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $480.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), as a 98J this is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report with no others achieving this grade, whether P.S.A.G. is correct in its call of 100J or P.S.E. is correct is academic as this is quite likely the finest used example extant
6
500
Back to Top3467
50c Violet (341). Huge perfectly balanced margins, gorgeous rich color on fresh paper, light strike of oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a spectacular stamp and easily one of the finest used examples extant, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $760.00), this is the highest grade awarded and no others share this grade
20
550
Back to Top3468
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Choice centering with wide margins, light oval registry cancel, excellent color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $800.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
100
700
Back to Top3469
1c-4c 1908-09 Issue, Imperforate (343-347). Complete set, each stamp with large to huge margins, bright colors and neat cancels, Extremely Fine Gems throughout, each with 2011 P.F. certificate and also P.S.E. graded, including 1c with part imprint (Gem 100), 1c variety with huge side margins showing 2mm spacing at left and 3mm spacing at right (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), 2c (Superb 98), 3c (XF-Superb 95), 4c (Superb 98), 5c (Superb 98), total SMQ not counting the Jumbo appellation on the 1c $599.00
99
650
Back to Top3470
5c Blue, Imperforate (347). Massive Jumbo margins showing portions of all eight adjoining stamps, rich color, neat strikes of New York oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a colossal stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $210.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grades), this is the highest grade possible and the only example to achieve this grade, while it is not unusual to "create" imperforate Washington-Franklin Jumbos from mint sheets or large multiples, finding a used multiple that will yield a stamp such as this is considerably more difficult
37
475
Back to Top3471
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Coil (348-349). Singles of each, wide margins and outstanding centering, deep rich colors, neat machine cancels, Extremely Fine Gems, both with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; total SMQ $750.00), the 2c is the highest grade awarded (2 equal)
150
700
Back to Top3472
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Outstanding centering with wide margins, deep rich color on fresh paper, neat oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an outstanding example of this difficult coil issue, with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other, the next highest used grade for a single is F-VF 75
210
750
Back to Top3473
5c Blue, Coil (351). Pair, rich color, full to wide margins, oval registry cancels, light wrinkle at top, otherwise Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. and 2012 P.F. certificates
825
450
Back to Top3474
1c Green, Coil (352). Balanced margins, deep rich color, neat duplex cancel, light gripper marks on back near top do not detract, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $575.00)
190
350
Back to Top3475
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Jumbo margins and choice centering, vibrant color on fresh paper, neat machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,250.00 as 95, unpriced as 98), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other has achieved this grade
220
1,100
Back to Top3476
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, radiant color and detailed impression, neat strike of oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,750.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded in any category (one original-gum pair has also been awarded this grade) and this stamp is the only used example to achieve it
275
1,800
Back to Top3477
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Bluish (357-358). Wide margins and choice centering, 1c wavy-line machine cancel, 2c very light cancel, rich colors, Extremely Fine, 1c with 2011 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90), 2c with 2003 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90), total SMQ $410.00, the 1c is the highest grade awarded and the 2c is the only example graded 90 with only one higher (95)
200
325
Back to Top3478
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Gorgeous rich color and proof-like impression on deeply blued paper, wide margins and outstanding centering, almost unheard of for this difficult issue, lightly cancelled (likely Saginaw Mich.)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 13-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS BEAUTIFUL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The 13c, both unused and used, is recorded as having been found only at the post office at Saginaw, Michigan.
Small backstamp. With 1974, 2003 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,350.00). The P.S.E. Population Report lists five unused examples graded 95 and only this single used example graded 95. None has graded higher in any condition. Considering that the SMQ price for a used 95 is only $800.00 higher than for an unused 95, we feel that the SMQ price is conservative for the superb stamp offered here
2,250
4,500
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